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Mark Knopfler Takes to High Seas in ‘Privateering’ (Song Premiere)

By

Eric R. Danton

Aug 21, 2013 12:39 pm ET

Of all the rock ’n’ rollers who resemble pirates, Mark Knopfler has to rank somewhere below, say, Keith Richards. Nonetheless, the singer, guitarist and former Dire Straits leader sees an element of privateering in his own career — enough to underpin the idea of his new album, “Privateering,” and the title track, which Speakeasy premieres today.

The song is a folky evocation of the days when daring captains set out on the high seas to plunder with authorization from a government. “Come with me to Barbary/ We’ll ply there up and down/Not quite exactly/In the service of the Crown,” Knopfler sings over a fingerpicked part on acoustic guitar.

“Privateering,” Knopfler’s eighth solo LP — and first double album — is due Sept. 10 in the U.S. on Verve Records. Hear the song below.